Introduction
In 1663, Brunswick, Germany was “swamped with refugees [which led to] overcrowding, brought disease and exacerbated outbreaks of the plague” compounded by multiple bad winters which caused additional social stress, anxiety, and hardships (Morton & Dähms, 2006, p. xv). Brunswick was a “fortified, medium city [that was] “predominately Protestant” of practicing Lutherans (Van Heyst, n.d., p. 113). Religion, “popular beliefs and common social characteristics of witches…[which] were typically women, widows, elderly, and largely dependent on their family” fueled the witch stereotype and accusations during this era (Van Heyst, n.d., p. 114). These factors gave little hope for the women during this time who fit the witch stereotype …show more content…
This essay will examine the social context and status of the participants in Anna Roleffes’ (otherwise known as Tempel Anneke) trial, if Temple Anneke’s character, gender and status contributed to her ultimate demise, and examine which testimonies reinforced …show more content…
xxvi). This combination of diabolism and maleficum “provided grounds upon which accusations of witchcraft, investigations, and prosecutions” gained legal attention were manifested from the beliefs and anxieties of the general population (Morton & Dähms, 2006, p. xxvi).
The status of the participants in The Trial of Tempel Anneke (2006) were mostly men associated with a trade or part of the elite (e.g., court officials that would be judging her fate). There were also women that participated in the trial as witnesses. These women were largely the wives of Anna Roleffes’ accusers (e.g., Anna Steinmann who was the wife to Hans Harves), served as accusers or character witnesses (e.g., Agnesa Graten, Anna Graven, and Anna Timmerman) and one individual woman, Hille Voge the High Countess of Lehre, was associated with elite society gave testimony (Morton & Dähms, 2006). In all, the participants in the trial of Anna Roleffes, known as Temple Anneke, were part of upstanding respected society that would employ her for healing and divining purposes. However, these individuals then saw Anneke as the cause of their misfortunes when she could not produce the desired outcomes they sought or when there was no positive result
In 1663, Brunswick, Germany was “swamped with refugees [which led to] overcrowding, brought disease and exacerbated outbreaks of the plague” compounded by multiple bad winters which caused additional social stress, anxiety, and hardships (Morton & Dähms, 2006, p. xv). Brunswick was a “fortified, medium city [that was] “predominately Protestant” of practicing Lutherans (Van Heyst, n.d., p. 113). Religion, “popular beliefs and common social characteristics of witches…[which] were typically women, widows, elderly, and largely dependent on their family” fueled the witch stereotype and accusations during this era (Van Heyst, n.d., p. 114). These factors gave little hope for the women during this time who fit the witch stereotype …show more content…
This essay will examine the social context and status of the participants in Anna Roleffes’ (otherwise known as Tempel Anneke) trial, if Temple Anneke’s character, gender and status contributed to her ultimate demise, and examine which testimonies reinforced …show more content…
xxvi). This combination of diabolism and maleficum “provided grounds upon which accusations of witchcraft, investigations, and prosecutions” gained legal attention were manifested from the beliefs and anxieties of the general population (Morton & Dähms, 2006, p. xxvi).
The status of the participants in The Trial of Tempel Anneke (2006) were mostly men associated with a trade or part of the elite (e.g., court officials that would be judging her fate). There were also women that participated in the trial as witnesses. These women were largely the wives of Anna Roleffes’ accusers (e.g., Anna Steinmann who was the wife to Hans Harves), served as accusers or character witnesses (e.g., Agnesa Graten, Anna Graven, and Anna Timmerman) and one individual woman, Hille Voge the High Countess of Lehre, was associated with elite society gave testimony (Morton & Dähms, 2006). In all, the participants in the trial of Anna Roleffes, known as Temple Anneke, were part of upstanding respected society that would employ her for healing and divining purposes. However, these individuals then saw Anneke as the cause of their misfortunes when she could not produce the desired outcomes they sought or when there was no positive result